Study: Mainframes Critical to Data Center, Cloud Strategy

A study from CA Technologies finds that mainframes are still alive and well in the data center and will be an important part of companies' cloud strategies.

Even with organizations shifting business-critical applications to
the cloud, mainframes remain as relevant as ever, but organizations are
struggling to find skilled IT workers familiar with the technology,
according to a survey by CA Technologies. CA presented the study
results during a panel discussion that was Webcast on Nov. 17.

Years after the mainframe was declared dead, it continues to play a
critical role in the data center. According to the report, 80 percent
of surveyed organizations said that mainframes were an important part
of their current business strategy, and 73 percent said it is, or will
be a significant component in their cloud strategy.

The results are consistent with an earlier mainframe study
surveying European organizations, released by CA in October. The
results of the new CA survey were "not a surprise", and the numbers are
"very close" to the European results, said panel participant Dayton
Semerjian, general manager of the mainframe business unit at CA
Technologies. About 79 percent of respondents in the European study
said the mainframe remains critical to their business and 75 percent
claimed the systems will play some role in their cloud strategy, said
Semerjian.

In this latest survey, more than three-quarters of the respondents
said they will maintain or increase their investment in mainframe
software and mainframe staff. "It's clear that the mainframe is here to
stay," said Semerjian.